MISSION AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education serves as principal adviser to the Secretary on all matters related to elementary and secondary education. The Office directs, coordinates, and recommends policy for programs designed to:

Assist State and local educational agencies to improve the academic achievement of early childhood, elementary and secondary students and to assure equal access to services leading to such improvement for all children, particularly children who are economically disadvantaged, Limited English Proficient, Native American/Alaskan Native, children who live in rural areas, and children of migrant workers.

Provide financial assistance to States to assist with comprehensive education reform efforts at State, local district, and school levels.

Assist States and local school districts in improving the health, social, emotional, and cognitive outcomes for all children, especially children with high needs, from birth through third grade so that more children enter kindergarten ready to succeed in school and continue on track to be college and career ready.

Assist States and local school districts turn around the lowest performing schools.

Assist elementary and secondary teachers in improving the effectiveness of their teaching.

Strengthen the management capabilities of State educational agency personnel and foster educational improvement at the State and local levels.

Provide financial assistance to local educational agencies whose local revenues are affected by Federal activity.

Provide financial assistance for drug and violence prevention activities; activities that promote the health and well being of students in elementary and secondary schools, and institutions of higher education; and school preparedness activities.

Assist State and local educational agencies in the process of school desegregation.

ORGANIZATION

The Office of Elementary and Secondary Education is under the supervision of the Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education, who reports to the Secretary and Deputy Secretary. The Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education provides overall direction, coordination, and leadership to the following major elements:

ORDER OF SUCCESSION

In the event that the Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education dies, resigns or is otherwise unable to perform the functions and duties of the office and the office is thereby deemed to be vacant, as defined by the Vacancies Act, and the President has not designated in writing another individual to act as the Assistant Secretary, the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and Strategic Initiatives, as the designated “first assistant” under the Vacancies Act, shall perform the functions and duties of the office in an acting capacity. If both the offices of the Assistant Secretary and the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and Strategic Initiatives are vacant, or the time period during which the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and Strategic Initiatives may serve in acting capacity has expired, the individuals listed below the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and Strategic Initiatives, in the order shown, are authorized to perform the functions and duties of the office of the Assistant Secretary, except for any functions and duties that are required by law to be performed only by the Assistant Secretary or by someone officially acting in such capacity.

In instances where the office of the Assistant Secretary is filled, but the Assistant Secretaryis absent, unavailable, otherwise unable to perform the functions and duties of the position, and/or there is a disruption in the normal channels of direction and communication, and there is no person officially serving in an acting capacity, and unless the Assistant Secretary or the Secretary, in writing, designates another individual to perform the functions and duties of the Assistant Secretary, the following officials, in the order shown, are delegated the authority to perform the functions and duties of the office of the Assistant Secretary, except for any functions and duties that are required by law to be performed only by the Assistant Secretary or by someone officially acting in such capacity: